US vows not to execute London 'terrorist'

The US government today promised not to execute a London terror suspect who is accused of raising cash and recruits from the Taliban.

A "diplomatic note" was handed to a London judge in a bid to secure the extradition of Tooting computer expert Babar Ahmad, 30, on five charges alleging he used websites to incite the murder of US servicemen in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

At Bow Street magistrates court last month John Hardy, for the US government, admitted that handing Ahmad over to the US military and possible indefinite detention at Guantanamo Bay or death would breach human rights.

Today Mr Hardy handed District Judge Timothy Workman a note saying the US government "assured" Britain it would neither seek the death penalty nor prosecute Ahmad in anything other than a federal court under criminal law.

"He will not be prosecuted before a military commission

... nor will he be treated or designated as an enemy combatant," said Mr Hardy.

The note was "irrevocable and unequivocable", he added.

Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing Ahmad, refused to accept the note was "binding" on Mr Bush or the US attorneygeneral. The case continues.